Fall Colours

I know it's been a while; been so busy!


I've been out with the camera lately trying to catch some fall colours; here are some of the best of the best.

Enjoy!

A Second Spring

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -- Albert Camus

Welcome back, everyone!

It's been a while, I know. I randomly took August off of blogging, for a multitude of reasons.

a) I was organizing, instructing, and examining the advanced leadership classes at the pool

b) I had company over from Scotland, my sister returned from her extended stay in Australia

c) My computer caught an unfortunate virus and crashed.

So, it's been a busy few weeks finishing up work, entertaining company, and moving into the new house. By the way, we are starting a blog about living environmentally in a student house over at sustainable shots. Check it out, we'll be updating regularly in no time!

Anyway, back to the blog.

I've been trying to enjoy the summer as best I can, with work, entertaining, and getting things done. Most people love the summer months. I do, as most, enjoy warm weather.

But by far, my favourite time of year is fall. I crave the fall all year. I love the change of colour, the smell of cold air in the morning, the crinkle and crunch of leaves underfoot. Some people find fall depressing, as if it were a time of slow decay and sadness.

But think of it this way; all the trees losing their leaves are sowing seeds for next spring. Really, it's a time of great change, of an old generation passing onto the next. Thus the meaning of Albert Camus' quote; "every leaf is a flower"; as every leaf turns colour and glides down through the air, more seeds are spread for trees to further flourish in the spring.

I love fall because I find it refreshing. The cold snap of air that hits your face in the morning is a wake-up call; an alarm to rouse you from that seductive, sleepy pull of hazy summer nights. It reminds you that there are things that need to be done, but at the same time, it requires so much of your senses to experience the full breadth of autumn that you're almost preoccupied with it's beauty.

"Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity;
but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance.  What man can stand with autumn
on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling
hills that reach to the far horizon?"-   Hal Borland

Autumn makes me remember what I'm driven to do. It reminds me that time passes quickly, that each falling leaf is a passing second -- but each second should be enjoyed for what it will be worth later. 

As I mentioned, autumn is a time of regeneration. What a wonderful time to go back to school; to learn bits of information from older generations that can teach us about the past and to help us understand what's to come. A time when nature ensures that life goes on is also a time when knowledge is passed on.

My suggestion to you is to go out and enjoy the fall weather; don't think of it as decay so much as a time of great change. Grab a chai tea, take some time on the bike path, have a good think, and get ready for the school year. 

Take a minute to reset your goals; make a goal for the day, for the week, for the month, for the year. It'll help you be a little more driven and focused. It doesn't  have to be an academic goal. It can be anything. For example, mine are:

Today: Practice harmonica for at least 15 minutes.

This Week: Learn 3 new songs on guitar.

This Month: Transfer all written lecture notes to OneNote as soon as I get home.

This Year: Look up sources for assignments as soon as I get them.

And, last but certainly not least,

Forever: Be nicer to everyone. :)

Ah, also, if you're in Peterborough or somewhere with decent bike trails or nice neighbourhoods, go for a nice little cruise on your bike; you'll feel awesome after, especially with the right playlist.

And do I have some great fall songs for you? Of course.

The Ballad of Hugo Chavez -- The Arkells
Winter Winds -- Mumford and Sons (current favourite)

Arizona -- Kings of Leon

Sweet Disposition -- The Temper Trap

Meo Bloonasir -- Sigur Ros

Don't Stop Believin' -- Journey

Peaches and Cream -- The John Butler Trio

Hoppipolla -- Sigur Ros

Bobcaygeon-- The Tragically Hip

Helpless -- Neil Young

Supersonic -- Oasis

Warning Sign -- Coldplay

King of the Road -- The Proclaimers

And just for fun:

We Speak No Americano -- Yolanda Be Cool feat. DCUP.

Enjoy!

See ya outside.

-- C

Disappointment and Life Lessons

"Even though the global population is soaring into the billions, with thousands of religions, languages, philosophies, and cultures represented, ultimately, there are only two kinds of people.

There are those who are certain the world is going to hell in a handbasket, and those who believe in the best is yet to come. 

(Actually, there is a third kind of person who thinks traditional Irish dance is the highest form of creative expression, but I really don't want to talk about them.)"

-- Bradley Trevor Grieve, Tomorrow: Adventures in an Uncertain World
 

This week, I have been disappointed. Many times, in many ways.

I am an optimistic person. I'm the one who sees the silver lining, the glass half full, the bright side. Even when I'm telling you my doubts, I'm still hoping against all odds that something good will happen.

And normally, it does.

I'm a perfectionist. A vapid, raging perfectionist. Just ask the friend who stared at me this weekend as I painted and re-painted a wooden box four times and still proclaimed that I didn't like it. If something's not right, and I know it, I will do everything I can do fix it.

I'm not easily disappointed. Because, as you can see, I try, try again. It's not that I'm stubborn (ok maybe a little), it's just that I have a compulsive need to prove myself worthy; not only to other people, but namely to myself. I am likely my own worst enemy. And I can't stand to fall short of my own expectations.

Thus, I don't fail things. I don't lose things. I don't make mistakes very often.

And when I do...God, it hurts. And this week, I suppose I had some cosmic forces just waiting to throw all the shit into the fan at once...and hit high power. I'm talking my whole life's worth of fail I haven't experienced yet.

Yes, I have had an absolutely horrid week. And while I won't go into detail, I will tell you what I've learned.

As much as I loathe to admit, disappointment can be a good thing.

I learned that yes, I am the one I disappoint the most. It doesn't really matter all that much what other people think. And all my life, I've been living up to other people's expectations because I was afraid of not living up to them. So I've been setting my own bar higher so I can be sure I won't fall short of the mark.

The only problem with that is, when you don't quite reach it, you only have further to fall.

But disappointment has taught me something else; you can measure your happiness in hope. I've always been happy trying to strive for more. It's not the trying that's the hard part, it's dealing with the fall. But if you had the audacity to hope and to try in the beginning, then you sure as hell have the guts to keep on going no matter what.

So, I will keep trying, and I suppose I'll fail again at some point in my life. And when it happens, I can look back on Epically Crappy Week and remember the lessons I've learned; that I can only disappoint myself, and that I had the guts to go on now, so I better have the guts later, too.

I've also been thinking of this from an environmental standpoint. Disappointments come every day in environmental issues, from many different groups and many different people. The oil spill is still leaking, the ice sheets are melting, air quality is causing deaths, the cancer rate is on the rise. But there are the strong few who believe that there is hope. That we can get past the disappointments and keep working our way to the top.

I think I'm a good fit for environmental issues because I'm that person who will just keep going, no matter what. I don't give up. I see the bright side. I have faith that we can learn from our mistakes.

And if everyone could realize this, we'd be in a better place, personally and physically.

Disappointments aren't the worst thing that can happen. Deaths and tragedies and accidents aren't disappointments; they're horrible and unavoidable mishaps, most of the time.

So my week could have been much crappier. I realize this. Hey, I'm looking on the bright side already!

The thing with the environment is that we can stop mishaps from happening; we can stop global warming if we try and just have the hope and drive to continue.

There will always be disappointments. There will be things that are your fault, and things that are beyong your control. You will fail some tests, you will lose an opportunity;  there will be environmental disasters and there will be failed prototypes.

Apparently my dad was destined to accidentally recycle a thousand dollars.

Shit happens.

But there's always tomorrow; your life isn't over yet. The world hasn't ended yet.

And it's the "yet" that keeps me going.

I highly recommend you read "Tomorrow: Adventures in an Uncertain World" by Bradley Trevor Grieve. It's a great book, made for kids and adults alike, that will guarantee you feel better after reading it. It certainly helped me this week. Here's another excerpt.

Although it may not be on your mind right now, the wisdom you glean from your joys and hardships can always be shared with someone else and, by doing so, you will leave the world a little better than when you found it.

In the meantime, I suggest you keep your chin up, put your walking shoes on, and follow your heart to the ends of the earth.

As you make this journey, always remember that each day is a precious gift. If you can enjoy it for what it is and make the most of it, then believe it or not, there is another extraordinary gift waiting for you. 

Tomorrow.

Portraits and Passtimes

"When Michael told me she said yes, I was surprised. Hell, I was doing somersaults!" -- Uncle Dennis

"Did ye have yer kilt oan then, too?" -- Random Wedding Guest

Okay, it's been too long. I really do love blogging, but I have been so busy lately! I didn't think my summer would be quite this full of working, entertaining family, traveling, and more working. This is just a quick post to let everyone know I'm still alive. I have a few ideas but literally no time to write, so I'll hopefully have something for you this weekend.

In the mean time, in case you're wondering what I've been up to, here are a few photos of a family wedding last weekend, and a link to the website I've started for the leadership course I'm teaching (which is eating up all my time): Bronze Medallion.

I love weddings, and my cousin's wedding was certainly a good one! I got to break out the ol' prom dress and try out a few new settings on the camera, so have a look-see.

Here are a taste of my "people shots" ... let me know what you think;  do I have the chops to be a wedding photographer? I'm just starting on portraits now, and as you can see, I love the candid ones...

Most of the pictures are of my Goddaughter and cousin...but they're so cute! Enjoy -- gotta love Scottish weddings, if not for the open bar and all the kilts!

Congrats Mike and Meghan :)

So...future as an amateur photographer, yes or no?

The True North, Strong and Free

"Canada is a good country to be from. It has a gentler slower pace - it lends perspective."
-- Paul Anka
   

After two consecutive cottage weekends, I'm feeling refreshed, inspired, and a little bit tired. Okay, maybe slightly hungover too, but I'm sure Canada didn't mind me celebrating her birthday with a local Laker or two.

I know that I'm very in touch with my 'nature side', as my dad would call it, but I do think it's important for everyone to really appreciate where we live and the beauty of our country...as well as gain some insight as to why it's important to keep it as beautiful and producitve as it is now.

I can only hope that my kids can spend weekends up North as I have for years now and swim in clean lakes and rivers, climb hundred year old trees, sit out in the sun...It's as important as it is fun to take some time to relax and live life at a slower pace, see the world and our beautiful surroundings as they should be.

People are always questioning Canada's identity. I feel, however, that although we don't boast about much, Canadians are the type of people that live in small towns; the type that sit back and relax in their backyard, simply appreciating who they are and what they have, and not really putting too much worry on what others think. Locals know the best spots, and if they know what's best for those spots, they'll share them with a select few people they love, lest that place become ruined by traffic or tourism. I think Canada is much like this...we know and love our country, and aren't in a rush to define anything about it.

I think that's actually a good thing.

I could go on and on about this amazing country, but pictures say a thousand words, so here are a few Canada Day Weekend shots for you :)

Hope you had a good one!